Patna, June 13: Young women and girls in the state capital need to be extra cautious, as criminal gangs are targeting vulnerable, homeless victims and forcing them into flesh trade.

The activities of such gangs, however, are not restricted to shady localities, they have now made inroads into upscale areas of the city.

Prabha, the kingpin of such a gang, was arrested today. Her husband Ashok Jha is absconding.

On June 12, police raided a flat in the Boring Road area under SK Puri police station. Ashok and Prabha’s gang used to operate out of this flat. Six men and three women were arrested. Sources said the persons were in “compromising positions” when arrested.

Sources also said Ashok and Prabha had taken the flat on rent from a professor at a monthly rent of Rs 10,000.

Police said the raid in the flat in Friend’s Apartment on the upscale Montessori School Lane was carried out on the basis of a tip-off.

In the course of interrogations, Prabha told the police that they had agents who move around the city, especially at Patna Junction, and look for homeless women who wander around aimlessly.

The agent would lure the victim in. She would, then, be kept captive by the couple and then forced into the flesh trade.

“Women and girls with no homes are always an easy target for such gangs. One of the three women recovered is from Uttar Pradesh. She had run away from her home after a disagreement with her parents and was roaming aimlessly at the Patna Junction when the agents spotted her. She was lured in and first brought to the couple’s home in the Kankerbagh area, where she was kept in captivity for a month. Then, she was forced into prostitution. The other two also have a similar story,” Patna senior superintendent of police Alok Kumar said.

At present, the police are trying to nab Ashok.

Sources said this was not the only gang operating in the city. “Homeless women and girls are easy targets. Most of them roam around and spend nights in public places like the railway station. The agents of this gang used to wait around the railway station to take these girls. They can be easily lured with some money or job offer of a maid somewhere. Many such agents are roaming free at this moment,” a police officer said.

Sources said it was shocking that such gangs had now made inroads into the upscale localities of the state capital as well.

The police said it was necessary to identify the residents of the apartments of the city.

“A move in this connection is on. Its main purpose is security. All the police stations of the city have been asked to prepare a list of the apartments under their jurisdiction and also prepare a list of the people residing in them. A detailed list of the security systems available in the apartments as well as the background of the security guards is also being made. The whole plan is under process,” the SSP said.

Earlier, too, the city police have busted sex rackets.

In September last year, the police busted a sex racket in which women offered their services over phone.